Woodpecker creating holes in house

ApS · 08-28-2018, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orion

You could replace those trim boards with Azek boards or clad the wood ones in flashing.

Woodpecker like their "signals" to be loud, so I wouldn't use flashing.

In my Florida neighborhood, they transmit by tapping on aluminum TV antennas and on the fiberglass covers on antenna-rotating devices on 50' TV towers.

This may be the opportunity to use swim noodles!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

I have woodpecker issues making holes in my trim boards at the roofline. Have replaced a few boards already, but they keep coming back. I understand that they make holes for various reasons: looking for bugs, sounding territorial area, etc In my case there are no insects found where they've been making their holes. I have read other posts on preventative measures one can use: Scare them by hanging brightly colored wind socks, fake Owls or Hawks, hanging pie plates, and other shiny objects, etc. Would be interested in other comments.
By the way, where would one purchase a fake Owl ?

I have a neighbor who would sell you two of them.

SAB1 · 08-28-2018, 11:11 AM

Most likely are bugs in the wall. Often times lady bugs.

Hillcountry · 08-28-2018, 11:40 AM

It’s not always about bugs because we used to have one that hammered away on our satellite dish every day. Quite the racket!
We’ve had them pecking on our log home too but on close inspection, no damage could be seen.
If you’re seeing actual holes they are most likely after some type of bug/larva-stage insect.

Biggd · 08-28-2018, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

It’s not always about bugs because we used to have one that hammered away on our satellite dish every day. Quite the racket!
We’ve had them pecking on our log home too but on close inspection, no damage could be seen.
If you’re seeing actual holes they are most likely after some type of bug/larva-stage insect.

I had one pecking at my aluminum gutter a few years ago back in Ma. That was quite a racket and always in the morning at sunrise.

jeffk · 08-28-2018, 03:31 PM

I have a metal roof and one decided to hammer away at it in the morning for a couple weeks. I didn't know what it was right away. It sounded like a humming electrical motor. I finally went outside and saw it. It flew away but was back the next day. He came back for another week or so, then stopped and never came back. Maybe he hurt his beak on the metal?

extremenewenglander · 08-28-2018, 06:59 PM

We have an abundance it seems of woodpeckers with their frequent visits. A lot of them. What works for us in keeping them off of the trimboards is ....... just feed them by putting a suet cake out for them in a suet cage that comes free in a box of ten for $10. No issues here only needing to replace the suet cake every few weeks.

Oh.......keep it within your reach for easy reloading and bring it in at night since the racoons love them.

loonguy · 08-28-2018, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extremenewenglander

We have an abundance it seems of woodpeckers with their frequent visits. A lot of them. What works for us in keeping them off of the trimboards is ....... just feed them by putting a suet cake out for them in a suet cage that comes free in a box of ten for $10. No issues here only needing to replace the suet cake every few weeks.

Oh.......keep it within your reach for easy reloading and bring it in at night since the racoons love them.

Won't bears be attracted to the suet?

Hillcountry · 08-28-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loonguy

Won't bears be attracted to the suet?

Bears would be attracted to anything that is “edible” and to a bear, pretty much everything is edible.
Bringing the suet in at night would help but if a bear smells anything during the day, they will help themselves unless otherwise bothered by a dog, etc.
They are out there...one morning this summer we were going out fishing out of Weirs channel at 4:30 am and we ran into a bear at our marina...and even stranger, there was a woman jogging through the marina property at this early hour! We drove toward the bear to scare it back into the trees as the woman jogged over to us. I asked her if she saw the bear and she said “yes, it was kind of following me”
I said “ we drove toward the bear to scare it off”
She said “I know” thanked us and jogged away. Silly woman.

08-28-2018, 06:59 PM	#6
extremenewenglander Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18 Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts	woody the wood pecker We have an abundance it seems of woodpeckers with their frequent visits. A lot of them. What works for us in keeping them off of the trimboards is ....... just feed them by putting a suet cake out for them in a suet cage that comes free in a box of ten for $10. No issues here only needing to replace the suet cake every few weeks. Oh.......keep it within your reach for easy reloading and bring it in at night since the racoons love them.

08-28-2018, 11:11 AM	#2
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,253 Thanks: 193 Thanked 334 Times in 242 Posts	Most likely are bugs in the wall. Often times lady bugs.

08-28-2018, 11:40 AM	#3
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	It’s not always about bugs because we used to have one that hammered away on our satellite dish every day. Quite the racket! We’ve had them pecking on our log home too but on close inspection, no damage could be seen. If you’re seeing actual holes they are most likely after some type of bug/larva-stage insect.

08-28-2018, 03:31 PM	#5
jeffk Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,188 Thanks: 210 Thanked 457 Times in 262 Posts	I have a metal roof and one decided to hammer away at it in the morning for a couple weeks. I didn't know what it was right away. It sounded like a humming electrical motor. I finally went outside and saw it. It flew away but was back the next day. He came back for another week or so, then stopped and never came back. Maybe he hurt his beak on the metal?